Clinics That Provide Abortions Anxious After An Uptick In Threats Of Violence

South Wind Women's Center in Wichita, Kan. where Dr. George Tiller worked. An anti-abortion extremist who shot and wounded Tiller in 1993 was released from prison earlier this month, and that has clinics that provide abortions concerned. Dr. Tiller was shot and killed in 2009 by another extremist.

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/ AP

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Originally published on November 11, 2018 4:42 am

Abortion providers around the country are on edge after a woman convicted of attempting to murder a doctor who performed abortions was released from federal custody on November 7.

In 1993, Rachelle Shannon traveled from Oregon to Wichita, Kan., where she shot Dr. George Tiller and wounded him. Tiller recovered from that attack, but was murdered many years later by another anti-abortion extremist.

Now, both Shannon's release and the current political climate have many clinics stepping up security.

Julie Burkhart worked with Tiller at his Wichita clinic for several years before his assassination in 2009. She'd sometimes go into his office for meetings and see his bulletproof vest on his couch — a "constant reminder," she said, of the danger Tiller faced.

"There was always this sense in the back of your head, that who could be the next gunman or gunwoman out there?" Burkhart said.

Burkhart now runs a group called Trust Women, which operates three clinics that provide abortion, including one in Wichita.

Tiller performed abortions later in pregnancy, often for women facing serious health conditions or fetal abnormalities. He became a target for anti-abortion extremists like Shannon. She was associated with a group called Army of God, whose website still describes people who carry out acts of violence against abortion providers as "heroes."

Burkhart and other abortion-rights advocates call Shannon's release from a halfway house last week "unsettling" for clinic workers around the country.

"We're all very concerned about her release," said Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, interim CEO of the National Abortion Federation, which represents abortion providers. "She has an extensive — long and extensive history — of committing and inciting violence successfully. And her release has all of us on edge."

Speaking with NPR by phone, email and text this week, Army of God leader Don Spitz, of Chesapeake, Va., said he recently spoke with Shannon — even though he's no longer allowed to talk to her as a condition of her release. Spitz said as far as he knows Shannon has no plans to try to attack an abortion provider again, though he said they didn't discuss that specifically.

Most major groups of abortion-rights opponents denounce such acts.

"The pro-life movement does not advocate violence, even against those who would kill unborn children," said Carol Tobias, President of the National Right to Life Committee. "I don't believe our rhetoric has contributed to that, and we would certainly condemn anyone who does take the life of an abortion worker."

Hancock Ragsdale said the threat to abortion providers isn't just about Rachelle Shannon or any other single individual. She said trespassing incidents at clinics tripled in 2017 from the year before, and threats of violence nearly doubled, according to data compiled by her organization, the National Abortion Federation.

She points to the divisive political climate under President Trump — though Trump has never called for violence against abortion providers.

"Our rhetoric around all issues of disagreement has been inflamed and enhanced, and anti-abortion extremists are seizing this moment to take advantage of that volatile climate and piling on," Hancock Ragsdale said.

Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood worker who changed her views on abortion and founded the anti-abortion group And Then There Were None, said she remembers the fear she felt after Tiller's murder in 2009. Johnson said she believes Shannon should still be in prison.

"I do know [the fear] is very real, and I do hope that every pro-life group comes out with some sort of statement supporting the dignity and the worth of those who work in the abortion industry, and completely rejecting the violence that this woman has caused," Johnson said.

In a phone interview, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Peifer said he continues to be concerned about the prospect of violence from extremists like Shannon. Peifer prosecuted her case in the 1990s and has continued to follow it.

"She has counseled people to commit similar acts — even more violent acts than she did," he said. "And there's been nothing to indicate that she's changed her mind in that regard."

At a moment when political tensions are high, clinics around the country say they're evaluating their security measures and talking with staff about the risk from people like Shannon — and anyone else she might inspire to commit acts of violence.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We'd like to get an update now on a story from some years ago, a story that has abortion providers around the country on edge. A woman convicted decades ago of attempting to murder a doctor who performed abortions was released from federal custody this week. In 1993, Rachelle Shannon shot and wounded Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, Kan. Tiller recovered from that attack but was murdered years later by another anti-abortion extremist. Now, clinics around the country are stepping up security. NPR's Sarah McCammon has the story.

SARAH MCCAMMON, BYLINE: Julie Burkhart worked with Dr. George Tiller at his clinic in Wichita, Kan., for several years before his death in 2009. She'd sometimes go into his office for meetings.

JULIE BURKHART: And right there laying on his couch would be his bullet-proof vest. That was a constant reminder.

MCCAMMON: Burkhardt now runs a group called Trust Women, which operates three clinics that provide abortion, including one in Wichita. Tiller performed abortions later in pregnancy, often for women facing serious health conditions or fetal abnormalities. He became a literal target for anti-abortion extremists like Rachelle Shannon. She's been associated with a group called Army of God whose website describes those who kill abortion providers as heroes. Burkhart says Tiller often thought about that attempt and others.

BURKHART: There was always this sense in the back of your head that, you know, who could be the next, you know, gunman or gunwoman out there?

MCCAMMON: Burkhardt calls Shannon's release from a halfway house a few days ago unsettling for clinic workers around the country. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale is with the National Abortion Federation which represents abortion providers.

KATHERINE HANCOCK RAGSDALE: We're all very concerned about her, really. She has an long and extensive history of committing and inciting violence successfully. And her release has all of us on edge.

MCCAMMON: We are not going to put the voices of people who advocate violence against abortion providers on NPR. But I did speak this week with one of the leaders of Army of God, Don Spitz of Virginia. He says he spoke with Shannon recently, though he's no longer allowed to talk to her as a condition of her release. Spitz says he still believes killing abortion providers can be morally justified. As far as he knows. Shannon has no plans to try again, he says, though they didn't discuss that specifically.

Most major anti-abortion rights groups denounced such acts. Carol Tobias is president of the National Right to Life committee.

CAROL TOBIAS: The pro-life movement does not advocate violence, even against those who would kill unborn children. I don't believe our rhetoric has contributed to that. And we would certainly condemn anyone who does take the life of an abortion worker.

MCCAMMON: The threat to abortion providers isn't just about Rachelle Shannon or any other single individual, says Latherine Hancock Ragsdale of the National Abortion Federation. She says trespassing incidents at clinics tripled in 2017 from the year before, and threats of violence nearly doubled.

RAGDSALE: Our rhetoric around all issues of disagreement has been inflamed and enhanced. And anti-abortion extremists are seizing this moment to take advantage of that volatile climate and piling on.

MCCAMMON: She points to the divisive political climate under President Trump, though Trump has never called for violence against abortion providers. Former U.S. attorney Steve Pifer says he continues to be concerned about the prospect of violence from extremists like Rachelle Shannon. He prosecuted her case in the 1990s and has continued to follow it.

STEVEN PIFER: She has counciled people to commit similar acts, even more violent acts and she did. And there's been nothing to indicate that she's changed her mind in that regard.

MCCAMMON: At a moment when political tensions are high, clinics around the country say they're evaluating their security measures in talking with staff about the risk from people like Shannon and anyone else she might inspire. Sarah McCammon, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.